Plank for use on exposed joists

ABSTRACT

A plank for use with multiple joists parallel to and spaced apart from each other by a joist spacing distance. The plank includes a body having a substantially planar top surface, a first horizontal axis, and a second horizontal axis. The first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. In a first orientation, the first axis is parallel to the joists and the plank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists. In a second orientation, the second axis is parallel to the joists and the plank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/332,980 filed on May 10, 2010, the entire content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to planks for use on exposed joists.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides a plank for use with a firstjoist and a second joist. The first joist is parallel to the secondjoist and is spaced apart from the second joist by a joist spacingdistance. The plank includes a body, a first stop, a second stop, athird stop, and a fourth stop. The body includes a substantially planartop surface, a bottom surface, a first horizontal axis, and a secondhorizontal axis. The first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. Oneor more first protrusions extend downwardly from the bottom surface todefine the first stop. The first stop is parallel to the first axis. Oneor more second protrusions extend downwardly from the bottom surface todefine the second stop. The second stop is parallel to the first axisand spaced apart from the first stop. One or more third protrusionsextend downwardly from the bottom surface to define the third stop. Thethird stop is parallel to the second axis. One or more fourthprotrusions extend downwardly from the bottom surface to define thefourth stop. The fourth stop is parallel to the second axis and spacedapart from the third stop. With the joist spacing distance equal to afirst distance and with the plank positioned in a first orientation withthe first axis parallel to the joists, the first stop is positioned neara first joist and the second stop is positioned near a second joist,such that the plank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicularto the joists. With the joist spacing distance equal to a seconddistance, the second distance different than the first distance, andwith the plank positioned in a second orientation with the second axisparallel to the joists, the third stop is positioned near the firstjoist and the fourth stop is positioned near the second joist, such thatthe plank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicular to thejoists.

In another embodiment the invention provides a plank for use withmultiple joists parallel to each other and spaced apart from each otherby a joist spacing distance. The plank includes a body and a front stopand a rear stop. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, afront surface, a rear surface, a left side surface, and a right sidesurface. The top surface is parallel to the bottom surface. The frontsurface is parallel to the rear surface and perpendicular to the topsurface. The left side surface is parallel to the right side surface andperpendicular to the front surface. The front stop and the rear stop arespaced apart from one another. Each of the stops extends downwardly fromthe bottom surface and extends from a left end to a right end such thata left side gap is formed between the left end and the left side surfaceand a right side gap is formed between the right end and the right sidesurface. Each of the stops includes a left space, a center space, and aright space. Each of the spaces extends through the respective stop. Thecenter space is positioned centrally between the left end and the rightend. The left space is positioned between the center space and the leftend and the right space is positioned between the center space and theright end. With the joist spacing distance equal to a first distance andwith the body in a first orientation, the left side gap, the left space,the right space, and the right side gap of each of the stops are spacedapart from one another by the first distance such that the left sidegap, the left space, the right space, and the right side gap of eachstop each receive a joist such that the plank is substantially fixed ina direction perpendicular to the joists. With the joist spacing distanceequal to a second distance different than the first distance and withthe body in the first orientation, the left side gap, the center space,and the right side gap of each of the stops are spaced apart from oneanother by the second distance such that the left side gap, the centerspace, and the right side gap of each stop each receive a joist suchthat the plank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicular tothe joists.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a plank for use withmultiple joists parallel to each other and spaced apart from each otherby a joist spacing distance. The plank includes a body having asubstantially planar top surface, a first horizontal axis, and a secondhorizontal axis. The first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. Ina first orientation, the first axis is parallel to the joists and theplank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists.In a second orientation, the second axis is parallel to the joists andthe plank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicular to thejoists.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a plank in a first orientation on multiplejoists having a first joist spacing distance.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the plank of FIG. 1 in a second orientationon multiple joists having a second joist spacing distance.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the plank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the plank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the plank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the plank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the plank of FIG. 1 along line 7-7.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the plank of FIG. 2 along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternative plank on multiple joists havingthe first joist spacing distance.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a plank in a first orientation and a plankin a second orientation on multiple joists having a first joist spacingdistance.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the plank of FIG. 10 in the firstorientation on multiple joists having a second joist spacing distance.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the plank of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the plank of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the plank of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the plank of FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the plank of FIG. 10 along line 16-16.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the plank of FIG. 10 along line 17-17.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the plank of FIG. 11 along line 18-18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

People, including tradesmen and homeowners, need to maneuver on exposedjoists for many reasons. The term joists refers to floor joists and roofrafters, especially for roofs of low or zero pitch, as well as otherbeams, studs, boards, planks, or other structures used in theconstruction of buildings. People need to safely move around inunfinished attics, for example, for the purposes of repair orinstallation of air conditioning, electrical, communications, orplumbing equipment. People also frequently desire to store items inunfinished attics without having to secure permanent flooring to thejoists. Joists are frequently exposed while buildings are underconstruction. Some people will simply walk directly on exposed joistswith no safe platform on which to step, sit, or place tools andsupplies. This poses a fall hazard that could cause injury to the personwalking on the exposed joists or to other people underneath the joistsand could cause damage to items stored on the joists or items locatedunderneath the joists.

People sometimes address the need for temporary flooring, decking, orsupport surfaces on top of exposed joists by placing a flat sheet on topof the exposed joists. Examples of flat sheets used for this purposeinclude plywood sheets, scrap lumber or metal, and other substantiallyflat pieces of wood, metal, plastic or other rigid material. A flatsheet can move freely along the joists and may inadvertently becomeunstable or unsupported. In some cases, a sheet becomes positioned as alever relative to a joist, which allows the sheet to teeter about thejoist. Sheets positioned on top of exposed joists and able to freelymove along the joists pose a hazard to people standing on the sheets orjoists, people underneath the joists, items, objects, and materialspositioned on top of the sheets, and items, objects, and materialslocated below the joists. These sheets, or the people or itemspositioned on top of the sheets, may fall off the exposed joists,potentially causing injury to the person standing on the sheet or to aperson underneath the joists and potentially causing damage to the itemspositioned on the sheet or to items underneath the joists.

FIGS. 1-2 and 10-11 illustrate a plurality of exposed joists 100 thatextend parallel to one another and are spaced apart from one another bya joist spacing distance 105. Different joist spacing distances can beused. FIGS. 1 and 11 illustrate a first joist spacing distance and FIGS.2 and 10 illustrate a second joist spacing distance different than thefirst joist spacing distance. The joist spacing distance 105 is measuredcenter-to-center between two adjacent joists 100. In the United States,the most common joist spacing distances are sixteen inches andtwenty-four inches.

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a plank 110 that can be placed on top of aplurality of exposed joists 100 such that the plank 110 is substantiallyfixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists 100. This reduces thepossibility of the plank 110 from becoming unstable or unsupported andfalling off of the joists 100. Top, bottom, up, and down are used torefer to the plank 110 in its position of intended use with down beingthe direction of gravity. Left, right, front, and rear are relativeterms that depend on the orientation of the plank 110 and are notintended to be limiting.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plank 110 includes a body 115, a front or firststop 120, a rear or second stop 125, a left or third stop 130, and aright or fourth stop 140. The body 115 has a top surface 145, a bottomsurface 150, a first axis 155, and a second axis 160. The first axis 155is perpendicular to the second axis 160 and both axes 155, 160 are in ahorizontal plane.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, each of the stops 120, 125, 130, 140 is a singleprotrusion that extends downwardly from the bottom surface 150. In otherembodiments, for example, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-18, each stopcan be formed as multiple protrusions that collectively defines aparallel surface. The first stop 120 and the second stop 125 areparallel to the first axis 155. Both the first stop 120 and the secondstop 125 extend for a length or distance 165 in a direction parallel tothe first axis 155. The first stop 120 and the second stop 125 arespaced apart a length or distance 170. The third stop 130 and the fourthstop 140 are parallel to the second axis 160. Both the third stop 130and the fourth stop 140 extend for the length 170 in a directionparallel to the second axis 160. The third stop 130 and the fourth stop140 are spaced apart by the length 165. The length 165 is greater thanthe length 170.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a first orientation in which the first axis 155is parallel to the joists 100, the plank 110 can be placed on top of aplurality of joists 100 having the first joist spacing distance, forexample, sixteen inches, such that the plank 110 is substantially fixedin a direction perpendicular to the joists 100. As shown in FIG. 2, in asecond orientation in which the second axis 160 is parallel to thejoists 100, the plank 110 can be placed on top of a plurality of joists100 having the second joist spacing distance, for example, twenty-fourinches, such that the plank 110 is substantially fixed relative to adirection perpendicular to the joists 100.

With the first joist spacing distance and the plank 110 in the firstorientation, the first stop 120 is near a first joist 100 and the secondstop 125 is near a second joist 100. As shown in FIG. 7, the first stop120 and the second stop 125 are positioned between the first joist 100and the second joist 100. This positioning substantially fixes the plank110 relative to the direction perpendicular to the joists 100.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the first joist 100 and the secondjoist 100 are positioned between the first stop 120 and the second stop125. This positioning substantially fixes the plank 110 relative to thedirection perpendicular to the joists 100.

With the second joist spacing distance and the plank 110 in the secondorientation, the third stop 130 is near a first joist 100 and the fourthstop 140 is near a second joist 100. As shown in FIG. 8, the third stop130 and the fourth stop 140 are positioned between the first joist 100and the second joist 100. This positioning substantially fixes the plank110 relative to the direction perpendicular to the joists 100.Alternatively, in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 9, the firstjoist 100 and the second joist 100 are positioned between the third stop130 and the fourth stop 140. This positioning substantially fixes theplank 110 relative to the direction perpendicular to the joists 100.

FIGS. 10-18 illustrate a plank 210 that can be placed on top of aplurality of exposed joists 100 such that the plank 210 is substantiallyfixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists 100. Top, bottom, up,and down are used to refer to the plank 210 in its position of intendeduse with down being the direction of gravity. Left, right, front, andrear are relative terms that depend on the orientation of the plank 210and are not intended to be limiting.

As shown in FIG. 12, the plank 210 includes a body 215, a front or firststop 220, and a rear or second stop 225. The body 215 includes a topsurface 230, a bottom surface 235, a front surface 240, a rear surface245, a left side surface 250, and a right side surface 255. The topsurface 230 is parallel to the bottom surface 235. The front surface 240is parallel to the rear surface 245 and perpendicular to the top surface230. The left side surface 250 is parallel to the right side surface 255and perpendicular to the front surface 240. The body 215 also includes afirst axis 260 that is parallel to the front surface 240 and the rearsurface 245 and a second axis 265 that is parallel to the left sidesurface 250 and the right side surface 255. With the plank 210 in itsposition of intended use, the axes 260 and 265 are in a horizontalplane.

The front stop 220 and the rear stop 225 are spaced apart from oneanother. The front stop 220 is spaced from the front surface 240 suchthat a front gap 270 is formed between the front stop 220 and the frontsurface 240. The rear stop 225 is spaced from the rear surface 245 suchthat a rear gap 275 is formed between the rear stop 225 and the rearsurface 245. Each of the stops 220, 225 extends downwardly from thebottom surface 235 and extends from a left end 280 to a right end 285such that a left side gap 290 is formed between the left end 280 and theleft side surface 250 and a right side gap 295 is formed between theright end 285 and the right side surface 255. Each of the stops 220, 225includes a left space 300, a center space 305, and a right space 310.Each of the spaces 300, 305, and 310 extends through the respective stop220, 225. The center space 305 is positioned centrally between the leftend 280 and the right end 285. The left space 300 is positioned betweenthe center space 305 and the left end 280. The right space 310 ispositioned between the center space 305 and the right end 285.

As shown in FIG. 10, in a first orientation in which the second axis 265is parallel to the joists 100, the plank 210 can be placed on top of aplurality of joists 100 having a first joist spacing distance, forexample, sixteen inches, such that the left side gap 290, the left space300, the right space 310, and the right side gap 295 of each stop 220,225 each receive a joist 100 to substantially fix the plank 210 in adirection perpendicular to the joists 100. As shown in FIG. 11, in thefirst orientation, the plank 210 can also be placed on top of aplurality of joists 100 having a second joist spacing distance, forexample, twenty-four inches, such that the left side gap 290, the centerspace 305, and the right side gap 295 of each stop 220, 225 each receivea joist 100 to substantially fix the plank 210 in a directionperpendicular to the joists 100. As shown in FIG. 10, in a secondorientation in which the first axis is parallel to the joists 100, theplank 210′ can be placed on top of a plurality of joists 100 having thefirst joist spacing distance, such that the front gap 270 and the reargap 275 each receives a joist 100 to substantially fix the plank 210′ ina direction perpendicular to the joists 100.

The stops 120, 125, 130, 140, 220, and 225 inhibit the plank 110, 210from sliding in the direction perpendicular to the joists 100. The stops120, 125, 130, 140, 220, and 225, spaces 300, 305, 310, and gaps 270,275, 290, and 295 are spaced such that there is some play that allowsfor limited movement of the plank 110, 210 in the directionperpendicular to the joists 100. Even with the play, the plank 110, 210is considered to be substantially fixed in the direction perpendicularto the joists 100. The play also allows the plank 110, 210 to be placedon top of the joists 100 when there are irregularities in the joistspacing distance between adjacent joists 100. In some embodiments, theplay allows for the plank 110, 210 to move up to one inch in thedirection perpendicular to the joists 100.

The planks 110, 210 can be constructed of one or more materials such aswood, plastic, metal, and ceramic. The planks 110, 210 can be fabricatedby extrusion, molding, casting, carpentry, coating, and otherappropriate methods of fabrication. The planks 110, 210 may be solid,hollow, composed of one two plates with ribs extending between theplates and with voids between the ribs, of sandwich construction with atop and bottom plate sandwiching a different material between them, orof other appropriate configurations. The stops 120, 125, 130, 140, 220,and 225 can be integrally fabricated with the body 115, 215 orfabricated separately from the body and then attached to the body.

Various textures, patterns, corrugations, or other surface features canbe placed on or formed in the plank 110, 210 to increase utility (forexample, for slip-resistance), and/or aesthetics. Warning labels can besecured to the plank 110, 210. Openings through the body, handles, andother handholds can be provided on the plank 110, 210 to make the plankeasier the user to handle and move. Additionally, openings, recesses,and other appropriate structures can be provided on the plank 110, 210for storage of tools or other items.

The planks 110, 210 can be a portion of a storage device, for example, abox or other container. A box with the plank formed as the bottom of thebox can be placed on top of exposed joists 100 such that the box isfixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists 100. A box of this typeis particularly useful to homeowners using an unfinished attic forstorage space. A tool box with the bottom of the tool box formed as theplank would useful for tradesmen.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. A plank for use with a first joist and a second joist, the firstjoist parallel to the second joist and spaced apart from the secondjoist by a joist spacing distance, the plank comprising: a bodyincluding a substantially planar top surface, a bottom surface, a firsthorizontal axis, and a second horizontal axis, the first axisperpendicular to the second axis; one or more first protrusionsextending downwardly from the bottom surface to define a first stop, thefirst stop parallel to the first axis; one or more second protrusionsextending downwardly from the bottom surface to define a second stop,the second stop parallel to the first axis and spaced apart from thefirst stop; one or more third protrusions extending downwardly from thebottom surface to define a third stop, the third stop parallel to thesecond axis; one or more fourth protrusions extending downwardly fromthe bottom surface to define a fourth stop, the fourth stop parallel tothe second axis and spaced apart from the third stop; wherein with thejoist spacing distance equal to a first distance and with the plankpositioned in a first orientation with the first axis parallel to thejoists, the first stop is positioned near a first joist and the secondstop is positioned near a second joist, such that the plank issubstantially fixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists; andwherein with the joist spacing distance equal to a second distance, thesecond distance different than the first distance, and with the plankpositioned in a second orientation with the second axis parallel to thejoists, the third stop is positioned near the first joist and the fourthstop is positioned near the second joist, such that the plank issubstantially fixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists.
 2. Theplank of claim 1, wherein in the first orientation, the first stop ispositioned between the first joist and the second joist and the secondstop is positioned between the first joist and the second joist.
 3. Theplank of claim 2, wherein in the second orientation, the third stop ispositioned between the first joist and the second joist and the fourthstop is positioned between the first joist and the second joist.
 4. Theplank of claim 1, wherein in the first orientation, the first joist ispositioned between the first stop and the second stop and the secondjoist is positioned between the first stop and the second stop.
 5. Theplank of claim 4, wherein in the second orientation, the first joist ispositioned between the third stop and the fourth stop and the secondjoist is positioned between the third stop and the fourth stop.
 6. Theplank of claim 1, wherein in the second orientation, the third stop ispositioned between the first joist and the second joist and the fourthstop is positioned between the first joist and the second joist.
 7. Theplank of claim 1, wherein in the second orientation, the first joist ispositioned between the third stop and the fourth stop and the secondjoist is positioned between the third stop and the fourth stop.
 8. Theplank of claim 1, wherein the first stop and the second stop each extendfor a length parallel to the first axis and the third stop and thefourth stop are spaced apart a distance parallel to the first axis, thedistance greater than the length.
 9. The plank of claim 1, wherein thethird stop and the fourth stop each extend for a length parallel to thesecond axis and the first stop and the second stop are spaced apart adistance parallel to the second axis, the distance greater than thelength.
 10. A plank for use with a plurality of joists, the joists beingparallel to each other and spaced apart from each other by a joistspacing distance, the plank comprising: a body including a top surface,a bottom surface, a front surface, a rear surface, a left side surface,and a right side surface, the top surface parallel to the bottomsurface, the front surface parallel to the rear surface andperpendicular to the top surface, the left side surface parallel to theright side surface and perpendicular to the front surface; and a frontstop and a rear stop spaced apart from one another, each of the stopsextends downwardly from the bottom surface and extends from a left endto a right end such that a left side gap is formed between the left endand the left side surface and a right side gap is formed between theright end and the right side surface, each of the stops includes a leftspace, a center space, and a right space, each of the spaces extendsthrough the respective stop, the center space is positioned centrallybetween the left end and the right end, the left space is positionedbetween the center space and the left end, and the right space ispositioned between the center space and the right end; wherein with thejoist spacing distance equal to a first distance and with the body in afirst orientation, the left side gap, the left space, the right space,and the right side gap of each of the stops are spaced apart from oneanother by the first distance such that the left side gap, the leftspace, the right space, and the right side gap of each stop each receivea joist such that the plank is substantially fixed in a directionperpendicular to the joists; wherein with the joist spacing distanceequal to a second distance different than the first distance and withthe body in the first orientation, the left side gap, the center space,and the right side gap of each of the stops are spaced apart from oneanother by the second distance such that the left side gap, the centerspace, and the right side gap of each stop each receive a joist suchthat the plank is substantially fixed in a direction perpendicular tothe joists.
 11. The plank of claim 10, wherein the front stop is spacedfrom the front surface such that a front gap is formed between the frontstop and the front surface, the rear stop is spaced from the rearsurface such that a rear gap is formed between the rear stop and therear surface; and wherein with the joist spacing distance equal to thefirst distance and with the body in a second orientation different thanthe first orientation, the front gap and the rear gap are spaced apartby the first distance such that each of the front gap and the rear gapreceives a joist such that the plank is substantially fixed in adirection perpendicular to the joists.
 12. A plank for use with aplurality of joists, the joists being parallel to each other and spacedapart from each other by a joist spacing distance, the plank comprising:a body including a substantially planar top surface, a first horizontalaxis, and a second horizontal axis, the first axis perpendicular to thesecond axis; wherein in a first orientation, the first axis is parallelto the joists and the plank is substantially fixed in a directionperpendicular to the joists; and wherein in a second orientation, thesecond axis is parallel to the joists and the plank is substantiallyfixed in a direction perpendicular to the joists.